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In attendance: Brian Hasbrouck, Jane Howard, Elizabeth Karpati, Ann
LeRoyer, Leslie Mayer, Oakes Plimpton. Facilitator: Leslie Mayer. Minutes:
Elizabeth Karpati
Next meetings: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, February 16 and March 16, Town
Hall Annex first floor.
Dam update:
The project has gone out to bid but we have no
further information from John Sanchez. The original plan was to start
construction in January.
The water has been kept high in the Res to minimize
water flowing through Mill Brook, to facilitate the culvert work at the high
school. After the recent rains the water was so high it was flowing through
the emergency spillway. This leaves no storage capacity in case of another
heavy rain.
The new tree warden (Jim Dodge) is planning to clean
up some of the deadwood on the berm. Leslie will check whether there are
any plans to fix the holes (erosion and/or burrows) on the berm, which are a
hazard to walking in some spots.
There should be "before and after"
documentation of what the Res looks like. Leslie will send an e-mail asking
for people to take pictures now and supply pictures taken earlier, and then to
take more pictures after the construction is done.
Other matters:
Park & Rec reports that beach attendance was down
in 2004 and has been declining for several years, from a high of about 36,000
in 1998 to about 21,000 in 2004. Contributing factors in 2004 probably
included the price increase, a fairly cool summer (the beach was closed or the
weather was bad 25% of days), some uncertainty about the opening date, and
possibly changing demographics. But geese control (via the fence and egg
addling) was a positive development. The beach area needs some facility work
and renewal of the sand.
The Open Space Committee is working on management
plans for the major open spaces in Arlington. The Res Committee should review
the draft of the one for the Res. Leslie will check whether it is available on
a website.
In discussions of the need for dog runs in Arlington,
an off-season dog run above the beach area has been suggested. This idea met
with the committee's disapproval: any dog run should be open year-round. The
former stump dump may offer a better possibility.
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